Good evening graduates, parents, faculty, and staff. Class of 2020, man we’ve been through a lot. From bowling nights to Krispy Kreme donuts. From winning spirit week to unfortunately and surprisingly losing it. From losing classmates too ,early to meeting new ones. The last four years have been quite a ride.

Obviously we could not gather in the most traditional manner due to the events of Corona. It is without a doubt that we are all taking part in a momentous time that will go down in history. However, I do not want that to diminish our experience and celebration for OUR day. Our Graduation. Nothing can take away the fact that we have worked tirelessly day in and day out to make it to this day. We slaved away at our Civics In Action Projects — until we forgot about it up to a week before it was due. We begrudgingly came into school on days to complete yet another standardized test. And we all tried our best to push through senioritis during our final days of high school in a manner that no other class had done before — online and at-home. WE did this all together. As one unified class.

It’s cliche to say that these memories are going to last lifetime. For some of you, you may brush off your experiences from high school. For others, that statement will prove to be true. For me, to be completely honest, I’m kind of a “cliche type of guy.” I tend to remember lessons I’ve learned, people I’ve met and have taken them with me. I moved to Ledyard at the beginning of eighth grade, just before our four years of high school and, looking back, I could not have asked for a better class to be a part of. This class has proven that we can come together and work as one. That we can stick together and help each other in our toughest times. In the middle of our freshmen year, we lost our fellow classmate, Conor Irwin, to a tragic accident. It was during those times I saw the greatest example of our class being united for one. Like Conor always did, we dressed up in bow ties and button down shirts on his last day with us as well as green the following day to honor him and to comfort one another in a time of grief. This class — our class — helped one another together as one.

It is without a doubt that every type of cohesive unit has gone through at least some bumps along the way whether it be any government, sports team, family or The Beatles. And while our class is no exception, we pushed through whatever struggles we have faced and now we are graduating today as one.

So as all go on to universities, enlist in the military, join the workforce, take a break, move to Europe or wherever, remember the togetherness from here at Ledyard High School and take that with you for wherever you go. To be completely real and honest with you guys, not everything in life will be smooth sailing from this point on, but the collaboration; the unity; the togetherness with others is essential to help you all go farther and achieve more. According to the book of Psalms, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers [and sisters] dwell in unity!”

Class of 2020, congratulations!! We made it guys.

(Noah Cayangyangis a Ledyard Scholar and Vice President of the Class of 2020.)